"blue beetle" is the first dc movie with a latino superhero. marvel, anything marvel, people love these days. >> i don't know where i'v been. i've never heard of blue beetle. "nightly news" is next. we'll see you at 6:00. mo we are tracking major breaking news tonight. a life-threatening tropical storm is hitting the southwest right now just as an earthquake rocks the same area. deadly flooding across mexico as hurricane hilary plowed toward the u.s., relentless rain and powerful winds now hammering the southwest. areas surrounding los angeles evacuated. parts of las vegas flooded. and the worst is yet to come. >> i'm afraid people might die. now an earthquake just north of los angeles. in washington state

thousands ordered to evacuate as massive wildfires burn out of control. hundreds of structures destroyed. firefighters unable to contain the fires. president biden travels to maui tomorrow amid growing anger at state and federal officials' handling of the crisis what residents are telling us. an unmanned russian spacecraft crashes into the moon. a major failure for that country's race to space. two terrifying injuries in nfl preseason games. players carted off on stretchers one game stopped entirely even as the league implements new rules to keep players safe plus the new movement across the country banning cell phones in school how students are reacting >> show of hands who doesn't like it? >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news with kate snow. good evening i'm kristen welker in for kate snow. as we come on the air

tonight, tropical storm hilary is lashing southern california with tens of millions in its path this is the damage hilary has already done a wall of mud and water ripping through one mexico town. the historic storm making landfall over baja california in that country earlier today. but now it's pounding the u.s. some 26 million people from the southwest up to idaho under flood alerts it's been decades since a storm like this has hit the region and officials warn it could be deadly and catastrophic but breaking right now, an earthquake rocking southern california let's get right to erin mclaughlin in cherry valley just east of los angeles. and erin, people felt this earthquake just as the storm hit what can you tell us >> reporter: that's right, kristen according to the usgs there was a magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck ojai, california to the north of los angeles

now, right there there are no reports of significant damage or injuries, but we are monitoring the situation. meanwhwhile, tropical storm hilary is striking to the south. tonight a powerful preview of the once in a generation deadly storm that's smashing its way from mexico into california and throughout the southwest. in baja a wall of water turning the street into a river of mud. hurricane hilary, once a category 4, now a tropical storm impacting california for the first time in 26 years >> we're battening down the hatches >> reporter: it's all hands on deck with the california governor declaring a state of emergency. today residents and tourists on catalina island near l.a. evacuating, packing ferries for the mainland so many others in the area terrified of the hours ahead. >> i'm afraid people might die. >> reporter: that fear most acu in the low-lying desert

areas. look at this flooding from las vegas today palm springs bracing for a year's worth of rain in a single day even light rain already a danger in death valley water already covering roads with national parks in the storm's path shut down even disneyland closing early ahead of hilary did you ever think this would happen? it is august >> oh, no. >> reporter: and in the mountains east of los angeles, evacuation orders. but many choosing to stay including brian maloney. why are you staying? >> because we always stay we rode every one of them out even the fires right to the door. every time >> reporter: around the corner an ominous sign of the dangers ahead. this is what officials are worried about. last year there was a massive mud slide that sawed that house in half and took out this huge redwo treod all of this after a thunderstorm nowhere near what's in the forecast for tonight. this family is still deciding what to do. >> right now we're

standing under the sky. barely any wind. barely any rain. >> but it's coming >> but it is coming. >> reporter: and no one knows how much destruction tropical storm hilary might bring. >> already so much damage there erin is east of los angeles in cherry valley erin, getting back to the breaking news about the earthquake, we're now hearing about aftershocks, right? >> reporter: that's right, kristen that earthquake was followed by a series of smaller aftershocks and experts say at this point they do not believe there is a connection between the earthquake and the tropical storm here where i'm at in cherry valley the wind and the rain have been picking up experts are very concerned about these old drainage systems being able to handle the kind of water in the forecast kristen? >>rin elaughlin, stay safe and thank you. priscilla thompson is in palm springs where there's flash flood concerns because

of the hard dry desert ground there priscilla, what are you seeing right now >> reporter: well, kristen, the rain here has only just begun, but already streets are beginning to flood. and the concern for officials as you mentioned is this dry desert landscape you see the water beginning to pool because it is not going to easily absorb it and officials are very concerned it is going to spread into the streets. it is why they have set up barricades like that one to warn people not to cross through the barricades because these roads are going to flood and could prove deadly kristen? >> those are critical warnings priscilla thompson in palm springs, thank you. let's get right to meteorologist angie lassman now. angie, how long are we expecting all of this to last? >> good evening, kristen. we've got another 24 hours to deal with hilary's impacts right now 26 million people under flood alerts including flash flood warnings in effect for southern california as heavy rain works on. we've still got the tropical moisture that's going to work in with some heavy

downpours through at least this evening and the potential for some isolated tornadoes the remnants of hilary will move to the north and west tomorrow. the threat of heavy rain and damaging winds will continue. isolated amounts up to 5 inches of rain are possible between now and monday and on top of that the power outages will be likely with places like las vegas seeing peak wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour yuma, arizona headed close to 70 miles per hour this will be another day or so of us looking at the impacts across this region kristen. >> we know you'll continue to track it, angie lassman, thank you. to the other major headline tonight, the massive wildfires raging in washington state at this hour thousands ordered to evacuate and hundreds of structures destroyed. jesse kich has the latest there >> reporter: the wildfires ripping across eastern washington state are tonight unrelenting. different places have been raging outside spokane since friday the largest, the out of control gray fire spanning more than 10,000 acres, tied to at least one death

also burning, the oregon road fire and the far smaller winona fire the trio fueled by excessive heat and high winds, destroying dozens of structures with thousands ordered to evacuate, like melissa thurman who says her home burned down. >> i can't even explain the feeling of knowing that everything you worked for is gone. so there is going to be insurance and stuff but it doesn't make up for what you see when you see all of your stuff turned to ash. >> reporter: today governor jay inslee touring an evacuation shelter. >> this has been horrendous fires the humidity, the wind, this fire moved seven miles in one afternoon. >> reporter: earlier the national weather service reporting the spokane region's air quality was the worst in the u.s. and perhaps the whole world. another challenge for people fleeing danger.

>> it was scary. i was shaking. my mom was crying. my dad was starting to cry. because we don't want to watch our house go up in flames. >> reporter: some families holding on to memories as they leave so much else behind. jesse kirsch, nbc news president biden will visit maui tomorrow in the wake of those devastating wildfires. the trip does not come without some criticism from not only republicans but from some residents miguel almaguer is on the ground in maui for us tonight. >> reporter: tonight as recovery teams here in lahaina nearly complete their grim search for the missing, for some grief is turning to anger amid this mountain of loss >> i cannot do anything we never seen nothing, nothing at all. >> reporter: bracing for a death toll still expected to rise, at least 2200 buildings are gone, most of them homes. the president expected in maui tomorrow but not welcomed by all. >> we don't need you don't come here. >> reporter: facing

criticism for what some call a tepid response in the days after the fires. >> mr. president, any comments on the rising death toll in maui >> no comment. >> reporter: white house staff says the president has been working behind the scenes to provide support and relief to those most in need >> i was in complete communication with him throughout this event helping him understand what i was seeing. >> reporter: fema offering meals, housing, and an initial $700 payment to survivors, who say it's not nearly enough to start rebuilding their homes and lives. >> stay out of our way. get rid of the red tape. >> reporter: planning to meet with victims and response teams, the president's visit comes three days after maui's top emergency management official resigned when herman indaya stood by his decision to not sound emergency sirens that often indicate a tsunami, local leaders including the

governor, appeared to stand by his side. but today he offered this suddenly stark rebuke >> do i wish those sirens went off? of course i do >> reporter: tonight in maui the demand for accountability the plea for presidential help, and the endless sea of heart break. >> still so much suffering there. miguel joins us now from maui. and miguel, you have some new reporting on the death toll reporter: yes, kristen, the death toll officially stands at 114, more than 85% of the burn zone has now been searched, but there remains over a thousand people who are still unaccounted for. kristen? >> all right miguel almaguer from maui miguel, thank you. nbc news will of course be covering the president's trip tune in tomorrow on "today" where we'll have the first major poll of iowa voters ahead of this week's republican debate. still ahead tonight, terrifying moments on the football field two nfl players taken out of preseason games on stretchers. one game stopped entirely also, the wild celebrations after spain wins its first ever women's world

cup.

as we gear up for football season we're back with a pair of frightening incidents at nfl preseason games this weekend two different players taken off the field on stretchers the incidents once again raising questions about player safety raf sanchez has the details. >> holmes in for the sack. >> reporter: this weekend not one but

two scary moments in preseason nfl games. new england cornerback isaiah bolden colliding with a teammate >> calling for the medical team off the sideline. >> reporter: lying motionless on the field for several minutes. his fellow patriots taking the knee in a protective circle around him their game against green bay called off with ten minutes still on the clock with the two teams coming together in a different game john wolford, a third string quarterback for tampa bay, hit hard. >> the head whipped a bit on the first initial hit. >> reporter: also lying on the field, his teammates surrounding him. eventually carted away with a neck injury >> we recognize the risks playing this game >> reporter: but managing a thumbs up from the stretcher both players have now been released from hospital and are expected to recover. but for those teammates frightening echoes of damar hamlin's on-field cardiac arrest. >> it brought that damar feeling of it's just scary >> reporter: hamlin made a triumphant return to the gridiron

last weekend just seven months after the near fatal accident. >> i am rooted in, you know, the love that i received from my family, my teammates. >> reporter: but even before the season formally starts the nfl already facing painful questions about the safety of the sport. >> another example that the nfl is not a contact sport. it is a collision sport. and these players, they are risking it all out there. >> reporter: the league has introduced new rules this season, one designed to reduce collisions during kick-off another adds a penalty if you use parts of your helmet against another player's head. the question, will it be enough to keep players safe this season raf sanchez, nbc news. a historic day for spain after their women's national team won the world cup. it's their first championship in history. kelly cobiella has the story. >> reporter: tonight celebrations in spain and australia for the

new world champions of women's soccer, a first for spain. >> absolutely ecstatic >> they played so good >> they played really, really good. >> reporter: their team beating england in a tough and at times bloody final this the only goal of the game. >> spain leads >> reporter: a thrilling shot from the spanish captain olga carmona they almost made it two after a penalty call against england england's goalkeeper mary earps making a spectacular save, trying to fire up her team they had their chances to score >> off the crossbar! >> reporter: but spain held out to the end. >> spain wins the world cup! >> i don't have any words for this moment. it's unbelievable. >> reporter: for england, heartbreak. >> obviously devastating but so, so proud of the girls. >> really proud of the team to come this far. >> reporter: this year it's spain's women going all the way to the top of the world

kelly cobiella, nbc news, london >> what a thrilling victory for them. we are back in a moment with why more schools are answering the call to ban cell phones the surprising reason why many parents hate the idea

we are back with a major setback for russia's attempt to make it to the moon. the country's unmanned luna 25 spacecraft, seen here launching earlier this month, smashed into the moon after they lost contact with t vessel saturday. the ship could have been the first to land on the moon's south pole back here at home as students return to school many are finding a new rule

this year. their cell phones are banned teachers love the policy students not surprisingly hate it what are parents saying marissa parra has the answer. >> reporter: at montgomery, alabama's carver high the morning rush to school is now a morning rush to scroll. >> power your phone off. >> reporter: new this year middle and high school students now forced to lock away phones before the bell rings. when do they get it back >> 2:45. >> reporter: 2:45. >> right >> reporter: principal gary hall pushed for the policy and the pouch to enforce it. >> they were texting, tweeting, you name it while classes were going on >> reporter: here's how it works at the beginning of the day students put their cell phones in these pouches. once it's locked i is really hard to get back open. they can keep it with them they just can't open them they're sealed this unlocking magnet the only thing designed to free them. it's not completely foolproof. >> we found a lot of cell phone cases with no phones. >> reporter: for students --

>> show of hands, who doesn't like the pouch? >> reporter: it's a painful adjustment >> i got to have my phone. >> reporter: why don't you like the pouch >> i don't like the pouch because in math class i like to take pictures of the notes and stuff. >> reporter: what is your favorite part >> we communicate more with each other now that our phones are locked up. >> it makes me pay attention now that i don't got my phone. >> reporter: who would be using their cell phone if it weren't for the pouch? that's a lot of hands. what would you be doing? >> cheating. [ laughter ] >> reporter: montgomery public schools isn't alone. the maker of the pouch yonder says they are seeing an estimated 150% increase in schools using them in 2023 now working with over 2,000 scols across the country. while most parents are for the pouch, others fear their children will not have their phone when they need it most. >> if there is an emergency, how can i contact my child

>> that means i'm in panic waiting until someone from the school calls and says, hey, there's a shooting. >> reporter: it's been one week has it gone the way you thought it would >> it's gone really well. >> reporter: the district superintendent dr. melvin brown tells us the benefits are worth the risk. >> we have to find a happy medium while at the same time our ultimate goal is to make sure everybody is 100% safe as possible. >> all right, so moving on -- >> reporter: just one week in this school is already seeing a difference >> i just see engagement honestly i see talking. they're using their words. >> it's revolutionized teaching for me this year >> work gets done faster we move along faster >> reporter: a new routine -- >> please unlock and keep moving. >> reporter: -- educators hope will unlock their full potential. marisa parra, nbc news, montgomery, alabama. >> giving people a lot to talk about. when we come back, there is good news to ght. a police escort like no other why so many came out for this little girl's first day of school.

and there is good news tonight about duty and family and how one sheriff's office came out to honor the daughter of one of their own at just 4 years old, zamira knight's life has already been touched by loss. in 2018 her dad sheriff's deputy christopher knight was killed in the line of duty his wife brianna says he was the love of their lives. brianna, tell me about zamira's dad, christopher. what was he like >> he was a funny person he loved spider-man. he loved dinosaurs dinosaurs was his favorite he was like a big kid at heart >> reporter: to his fellow deputies in

bibb county, georgia, he was also a hero >> i think we throw that around a lot. but people like christopher who come to work every day to serve our community and then while serving our community they pay that ultimate sacrifice, certainly that is the definition of a hero. >> good job! >> reporter: that's why sheriff david davis and his deputies decided to honor christopher's legacy, walking zamira into her first day of school at porter elementary in macon, standing in for the father who couldn't be there. >> in honor of daddy mr. christopher knight whoo good job >> reporter: there they are making sure she has the support and smiles she needs for this new chapter in her own life. >> i'm in pre-k. >> pre-k yes. what was it like for you to walk into the first day of pre-k with the sheriff and all of his deputies? >> it was fun. >> reporter: it meant

the world to her mom >> brianna, what was that moment like for you? >> it made me so overjoyed to see his brothers and sisters in black and blue bring my daughter to school. >> reporter: christopher's mom cheryl says the sheriff's gesture helped restore the family's faith in kindness >> they were like yes. they were all on board. i was just so proud. >> reporter: proud to see zamira still felt her dad's love through those who knew him best do you think you'll be there for her last day when she gets that diploma one day? >> i sure hope so. you never know maybe she might want to follow in her dad's footsteps and become a deputy we'll see. >> zamira says so far her favorite part of school has been getting to read books, a love she shares with her father that is "nbc nightly news" for this sunday. i'm kristen welker in washington for all of us here at nbc news, good night

good evening. we begin with tropical storm hilary. this storm downgraded from a hurricane just before it reached the coast and right now it is hitting southern california. some streets and areas like palm springs in los angeles covered with rain. >> causing a southern hospital to flood.